A Gift!

Look at this beautiful bowl I received the other day from a lovely reader! It's the one on the left, with the amazing lacy edging. As most of you probably know, I have a deep and abiding love for dishes. :) And I guess it is beginning to rub off on some, because a lot of you have told me that when you see a pretty dish, you think of me! I can't imagine a nicer compliment.

Recently, I wrote a post about a birthday gift I received from my dear friend, Robin. She gave me a beautiful tole tray, painted with robins. I told you about the artist, Won Buikema, and posted a link to her current ebay offerings.

A few days ago, I received this gift from Won, thanking me for showing her work! She enclosed a sweet letter, telling me how much she has enjoyed my blog. I am continually amazed that anyone actually reads what I write, and I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of both bloggers and readers alike.

Thank you so much, Won! I love the bowl, and I'm touched that you thought of me. :)

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I also have to thank another reader, and fellow blogger, for this wonderful award. Carletta, of Round The Bend, was kind enough to say that she appreciates my writing. As Carletta is a retired teacher, I'm truly honored. Honestly, it amazes me that anyone actually reads what I write, and to be given such recognition is so affirming. Truth be told, I'm actually a little embarrassed to acknowledge it. There are so many much more wonderful blogs that I read daily!

I'm supposed to give three pieces of writing advice, and pass the award on. How can I possibly give advice to all of the great writers out there? I will fall back on what I always tell my children:

1. Read, read, read. A baby learns to talk from listening, and a child learns to write from reading. Of course, most of the bloggers I've met are already avid readers, so they don't need to be told this.



2. Write about what you love. This is certainly not new advice, but bears repeating. My best-received posts are always the ones which overflow with a passion for the subject at hand. Haven't I convinced you all to go out and look for a pretty dish at your local thrift store? LOL



3. Edit, edit, edit. I suppose this is the writer's equivalent of "Measure twice, cut once." I'm sure there are others who can just write off the cuff, but I need to stop after every sentence and read the whole thing back to myself. My kids think I'm nuts when they see me hunched over the computer, reading aloud to myself in a low whisper. "Mom, you're such a loser." Don't you love teenagers?

Now comes the hardest part -- passing the award on to just three writers. There are so many great bloggers out there, but here are three that I love for their wonderful words:

Dena, at Swaddle Cottage. Click here to read her touching post about a thrift store find and a homeless man.

Rechelle, at The Country Doctor's Wife. I do a spit take nearly every morning when I read her hysterical posts. Click here to laugh out loud.

Heather, at Splaneyo. Her posts about life with a young family are filled with a simultaneous sweetness and loss of sanity that is immediately recognizable to every mother out there. Been there, done that.

These women are all fabulous writers, and I know you will enjoy a visit with them. Tell them Mary says, "Hi!"